Services in Ontario - Out‑of‑court options

During the COVID-19 situation, family mediation services are being provided remotely. 

Family mediation services are available at family court locations in Ontario. Even if you don’t have a court case, you can get up to 8 hours of mediation for a fee based on your income. If you have a court case, you can get up to 2 hours of mediation for free at court.

You don’t need to be referred to mediation by a judge. Mediation is a voluntary process that all parties must agree to use, to try and resolve issues such as:

• how and when to separate
• custody and access
• child support
• spousal support
• dividing property

For more information, go to the Family Law Information Centre at the courthouse and speak with the Information and Referral Coordinator. 

During the COVID-19 situation, Information and Referral Coordinators (IRCs) are available remotely at certain times. Contact the family law office at your local courthouse for more information.

FLIC’s are available in every court in Ontario that deals with family law. All have free pamphlets. Many have staff who can:

• tell you about community and legal services
• explain the court process
• tell you about ways to solve legal issues without going to court

Some FLICs have advice lawyers at certain times. These are lawyers paid by Legal Aid Ontario to answer questions, give general legal advice, and review legal documents on family law issues.

The Law Society of Ontario has on online Law Society Referral Service that gives you the name of a lawyer or licensed paralegal who will give free legal advice for up to 30 minutes in any area of law.

If you can’t wait for a legal representative to call you back, or if you don’t have a call-back number, email lsrs@lso.ca. Or, if you’re in crisis or in custody, call 1-855-947-5255 or 416-947-5255, Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The Ontario Legal Information Centre offers a free 30-minute meeting with a lawyer to anyone in Ontario by telephone or in person at their Ottawa office in any area of law in English or French. You may have to leave a message, and a lawyer will call you back.

The association has an online directory to help you find an accredited family law mediator. You can serach by location, language, and name. 

The association has an online tool to help you find an accredited family law mediator. You can serach by location, language, and name. 

JusticeNet helps people find a legal professional if their income is too high to get legal aid but too low to afford legal fees. If your net family income is less than $59,000, they refer you to an online directory of lawyers, paralegals, and mediators who provide help at reduced rates.  

JusticeNet is a non-profit organization. You must register and pay a $25 fee to use their website. They may return the fee if you don’t find a professional to work with.

The Canadian Council of Muslim Women provides Muslim women in Ontario with culturally appropriate referrals to legal information and advice in family law, as well as with other issues like housing, mental health, and food bank services. It includes referrals to lawyers, as well as imams and social services organizations such as shelters. You have to email this intake form, and the service will try to respond within 24 hours.